Furnace construction



A. C. EDGA R FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 27, 1920 4 sheets-sheet, 1

Mar 20, 1923. 1,448,734 A. c. EDGAR FURNACE CONSTRUCTION s-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1920 4 sheet g b q g Q 5 g} y Q g Andrew/612g:

WITNESS Mar. 20; 1923.

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A. C. EDGAR FURNACE CON STRUCTION Filed Oct. 27, 1920 4 sheets-sheet 4 a Ilt A F $7M. a m J u iiiL "Vi/EN TOR Eqga IIIIIIIIIA -II/l zvlllllrln /k E I IIIIIIIII I 11111110! Patented Mar. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES P AT E'NT OFFICE.

ANDREW C. EDGAR, 0E NBWJQOW'N SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNA E CO STBUCTION.

Application filed eotober 27, 1930-. Serial Np.- 420,065

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Annnnw C. Enenn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newtown Square, in thecounty of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace Constructions, of Which-the followinq is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improvements in boiler constructions, and With particular reference to the provision of a high temperature surface for igniting the gases of ('UmbHStlOD asthey unite with superheated air entering the combustion chamber at the proper points, and together impinge against said surface, to producethezgreatest heat at the desired locality and also insure an absence of color or smoke asthe products oi combustion leave the exit.

Another object is to provide details of constructimi which materially assist in accomplishing the foregoin object with the highest possible degree oi e'lliciency. and to this end providing a Suspended bridge-Wall comprising one or more sections of channelled lire-brick, slidably and re'movably insorted Within the boiler, preferably through the side thereof and supported by integral parts of the boiler section, or sections, provided for the purpose.

Still another object is to provide fire-brick sections for the purpose specified. the same being shaped as to be capable of use in one position within the upper portion of the roinbustion chamber of a boiler as a suspended bridge-wall, and equally well adapted for use in an inverted position when inserted in the lower portion of such a chamber for use in place of the common type of bridge-wall intended to limit the extent of the fire-bed in one direction, and said sections being also adapted for simultaneous use in the same furnace, one as a lower bridge-wall at the grate level and the other as an upper suspended bridgewall, with sullirient distance separating: them in such lust arrangement as to freely pass the ignited gases of combustion therebetween.

And still another object is more specifically to provide fire-brick sections. each vomprising u bod portion preferably ta. pered in cross-section in one direction, and provided with a longitudinally extendingt-hanuel opening through the end portions of the said section, with one or more branch channels leading from said first channel and preferably tapering as they approach and open outwardly througlrrestricted apertures in the tapered portion of the said section, one-earl or a section preferably being ex tendadandlaxially bored in alignment with said first channel, and operative to provide asuitable insane for connecting an air-coin ducting pipe to said first channel.

And a still further object is to provide in a sectional boiler two adjacent sections having ell-operating recesses to jointly form an aperture in one side of the boiler, the adjacent sides of said recessed sections being pro vided with aligned brackets adapted to receive sliilably and reniovably support within the combustion chamber firedniicksections of the cho'll'acter above referred to, after said sectionshave been inserted through said aperture. said aperture normally being closed by means of den iountailole plate or door when access to the interior of the boiler is not desired. And in combination with the said boiler section constrijiction. there is provided an air flue adapted at one end to be ronncctedto lead air into the longitudinal channel olZthafire-briok section when in normal position within the boiler, and at its other end preferably connected so as to draw air from the ash pit below the grate level.

lrVith this construction the flow of the air through said flue is adapted to be regulated by iresom means such as a damper regulator, employed to regulate the consumption of thefllcl upon the grate of the boiler, while the air after leaving said flue enters the longitudinal channel of the highvtem perotured bridge-Wall, Whether at grate levehor suspended fronrarbove, or both in combination, and thence passes through the said branch channels WrllBlt it is superhoatedbefore itenters the mnibustion ohzunher oi the boiler and unites with the gases of combustion arising from the fuel being used. the combined gas and air in the proper predetermined.proportions igniting as they together impinge against the ignition surface of the bridge-wall.

\Vith these andzother objects in vie; the

invention consists in further details of eonstruotion and operation, which are fully brought out in the following description. when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a vertical transverse section of a boiler taken between two adjacent sections and com rising one embodiment of the invention; 1g. 2 is a side elevation of the two sections between which the cross-sectional view Fig. l is taken; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and representing a modified form of the invention; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the two sections between which the cross-sectional view Fig. 1 is taken; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l and illustrating a second modification of the invention; Fig. (i is a side elevation of the two sections between which the cross-sectional view Fig. 1 is taken; Fig. 7 is a continuation of the vertical longitudinal section of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. two adjacent sections 1 and 2 of a sectional end-feed boiler are shown, these being sufficient for the purpose of illustrating the application and functioning of the improved hollow tile bridge-wall construction with relation to boilers of this character. Each of said sections comprise latorally positioned vertically extending cored leg portions 3, connected at the top by a horizontally extending cored portion t. provided with a plurality of apertures 5 which are in alignment in the several sections g0- ing to make up a complete boiler and are for the purpose of permitting drafts carrying the products of combustion to pass through the water-carrying portions of the said sections and by thus increasing the surface area. decreasing the time required for the water to absorb a given quantity of heat from the said drafts.

The lower portions of the said legs are provided with apertures into which are secured nipples 6 for connecting the sections together to aid in the more rapid circulation of the water than would otherwise be possible. it the leg portions were completely self-contained and independent of one another. The upper portions of the said sec tions are similarly joined by nipples 7, while the uppermost portions of the several sections are often provided with nipples 8, leading into a common longitudinally extending trunk pipe (not shown). When assembled as a complete boiler the sections referred to rest upon side castings 8. provided with apertures 9 and operatively supporting any suitable type of grate it). while the chamber 11 inclosed by said castings constitutes the ash-pit. into which opens through one of the sides a draft inlet 12. covered by a. ivotally mounted closure 13, which is arranged to be automatically opened and closed by means of a chain is connected at its upper end to the adjustahly weighted lever 15 adapted in the usual manner to be actuated automatically by 9.

diaphragm within the casing 16 in accord ance with the pressure of the steam within the boiler.

Each of the leg portions 3 of both of the sections 1 and 2 is provided with a pair oil recesses 17 extendinv inwardly from one side. one being positioned udjaccnl lo linlowermost portions of said legs, while the other is positioned adjacent to the uppcv most portion thereof and terminating in alignment with the lower edge portion of the horizontally extending cored portion 4. Each of the said Sections is furthermore provided with a horizontally extending integrally supported ledge 18, substantially midway between the upper and lower extent of the said recesses 17, and extend from one leg portion directly across to the other leg portion of each of said sections. 'i lic recesses in section 1 are illustrated in Fig. 2 as being positioned so as to register with the corresponding recesses in section 2. and when said sections are joined as shown in the drawings, said recesses together form a pair of apertures through the opposite sides of the boiler, said apertures being normally closed or covered by removable plates 18, supported and removably secured in position by means of bolts 20 or the like.

l'idaptcd to be inserted through the said t apertures andslidably upon the ledges 16 are cored sections 21 oi fire-brick in transverse cross-section very closely conforming in shape and size to the cm'responding dimensions of the said apertures. and in length when operatively positioned extending through the leg portions of the boiler sections upon one side oi the boiler to and through the leg portions upon the opposite side of the boiler as shown in Fig. 1. These sections are interchangeable and are provided with longitudinally extending aligned channels 22, closely adjacent to one side sun face of the fire brick, while branches 2:5 of

said channels extend at right angles with the i former and towards the opposite side surface of the tire-bricks. that portion oi the lnicli through which the branch channels emerge being transversely tapered so as to provide a blunt edge portion. past which the prod ucts of combustion must pass from the tire bed upon the grate 10 on their way through the fines of the boiler and toward the stack.

By reference to Fig. l. the upper pair of fire-bricks will be seen to constitute a. suspended bridge-wall. so designed and posi tioncd as to absorb and retain sniiicient been to make the lower surfaces of the bricks cont prise ignition surfaces. and. by reason of their great heat, considerably raising the temperature of the air passing through then downwardly as shown by the arrows anl outwardly into the combustion chamber immediately therel'iclow. The lower firein-iclrs also seen in Fig. 1 constitute a bridge-wall like lob

incense against which the fuel upon the grate 1 0 is adapted to be fed, but in this latter instance the bricks and their respective surfaces are not raised to the same temperature as those immediately above, wherefore the branch channels 24 extending upwardly from longitudinally extending aligned channels 25 are tapered upwardly so that they will not choke with the deposit of dust which will obviously iiow through them upon being fed into the channels 25 from the ash-pit as herein-titer described, and as would obviously be the case if the sides of the said branch channels were parallel.

The corresponding channels 23 in the upper bricks comprise a suspended bridge wall, it will be noted, taper downwardly, but this is of little or no consequence when occurring in a member that by actual design is so positioned as to present an ignition surface by reason of the high temperature at which it is maintained, said high temperature operat ing to consume and disintegrate any fuel or ash dust which may enter into the several channels passing therethrough.

Extending outwardly from the ash-pit 11 and secured within the apertures 9 are nippics 26 connected with Ts 27, having their opposite end portion closed by plugs 28, and their laterally positioned openings connected by means of tubing 29 to the cross 30. one end of each of which latter is connected by a nipple ill to an open end of the adjacent channel 25 and the lower bridge-wall fire bricks, and through the adjacent plate closure 19, the opposite opening of which cross is closed by means of a plug 32, while the fourth opening is connected by an upwardly extending, tube 33 to the downwardly directcd opening of a T 34, having a second opening connected by means of a nipple 35 to the adjacent end of the horizontal channel 22 within the fire-bricks of the suspended bridge-wall, the third and last opening of said last-named T being closed by means of a plug 36. r

Vihcn in operation. the furnace equipped as beiore described is automatically regulated by reason of the steam pressure actuating the lever 15. with the result that when the temperature of the tire falls. as evidenced by the decrease in steam pressure. the door 13 is opened and the fire permitted to burn. thereby creating a more rapid production of the products of combustion from the fuel within the combustion chamber. The opening of the door 13 to permit the entrance of air tbc cthrouuh to the grate and the lirebed thereupon. fresh air is also admitted to the nipples "26 and other line connections to the fire-brick channels 22 and 25. so that as a result there is an increase in the flow of air through the branch channels 2 and 21 also in the combustion chamber oi the boiler. this How of preheated air through the cored fire-brick being maintained in substantially constant proportion to the rate of combustion of the fuel upon the grate 10.

it is obvious from the construction illus trated that in the event of any of these said bricks becoming damaged or broken, the same may be replaced by removing the adjacent closure plates and removing the desired brick through the corresponding apertures li -1T, and after insertion of a new bricln replacing the said plate and reroupling the fresh air connections to the said brick.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a portion of a furnace is shown similar to that described. in that it comprises two of the sections 37 and 38 of a boiler provided with leg portions 39 and a horizontally extending cored section it) at the upper end thereof. the leg sections being connected to one another by means of? ni pics 41 and the uppermost portions of said sections connected together by nipples in, while the leg portions of each of these two sections of the furnace are connected by a transversely ex tending cored bridge-wall i3. These sections as in the first instance rest upon castings -H inclosing an ashpit 45, above which is a grate -16. while an inlet 4? is provided in said ash-pit. the opening of which is reg ulutcd by means of a door 48 connected by a chain 49 to the lever 50 of the diaphragmactuating means within a casing 51 upon the upper portion of one of the boiler sections above the water level.

These two sections are formed with cooperating recesses 52, which together form apertures in the opposite sides of the boiler when assembled. and through which firebricks can be inserted slidably upon transversely extending ledges 54. These said firc-bricks comprise aligned longitudinally extending channels 55, from which branch channels 56 extend downwardly into the combustion chamber 57 of the boiler the longitudinally extending channels being connected at their outer free ends through plate closures 58 with nipples 5E) and Ts (il to vcrtically extending tubes (ll. which at thrir lower ends are connected through T's 62 to nipples 6 which lead directly through apertures 64 in the castings 44 into the ashpii if).

With this umstructiou the suspended bridgc wall has the same functions exactly as those described in relation to the first form of furnace construction illustrated. the only difference that the furnace. iu the pres out case. instead oi beiuL provided with :1 replaceable cored fire-brick bridge-wall. as 'ai'ust wh ch the fuel is fed. has the cored iron bridge-wall l3. showing that manufacturers who at the present time produce furpaces with the cored bridge-wall need not, if they so desire, make much alteration to till their furnaces in order to incorporate in them the present invention relating to the cored interchangeable sections.

Referring now to Figs. and G, the type of end feed boiler is shown as comprising oppositely positioned vertically extending 1c; portions 67. connected to one another at their lower extent by nipples 68, while said sections at their uppermost portions are connected together by adjacent sections by means oi' nipples 69, each of said sections at its upper portion comprising a horizontally extending cored section 70, and a cored water-cooling suspended bridge-wall 71, which. unlike the corresponding bridgewalls hereinbeiore described, does not ofler an ignition surface for the gaseh of combos tion within the combustion chamber of the boiler.

This last -nan1ed furnace furthermore comprises an ash-pit T2 inclosed by a castinn" 73. through which leads an inlet Tel, the opening of which is adapted to be altered by means of a closure connected by a chain Tf to the usual weighted lever 77, operated by means of a diaphragm within a casing TH positioned upon an upper portion of a boiler section above the water limit within. The upper end portions of the. ash-pit castings T3 are spanned by a grate 79, while directly upon said castings rest the several boiler sections. Each of said sections is provided in the lowermost portions of its legs 6? with cooperating recesses 80, which together form apertures through which may be inserted into the boiler the removable and interchangeable sections of cored firebrick 81. said apertures being normally closed by means of plates 82 supported and secured in position by means of bolts or the like 83. These lust-named fire-bricks embody aligned longitudinally extending channels 83, from which rises upwardly taperingbranch channels 84 similar in every way to those described with relation to Figs. 1 and L". and functioning in exactly the same man ner.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to protect by Letters Patcut of the United States is l. A firebrick, provided with a longitudi nally extending channel opening through the opposite ends thereof, with a branch channel leading: from said first channel and opening through a laterally positioned surface thereof. and with pair of parallel grooves forming shoulders positioned upon ti opposite sides of the said brick to en gage means to operativel support said brick within the combustion chamber of a boiler.

2. The combination of a boiler, and sup portin means carried by the boiler, with a fire brick removably mounted upon said means and provided with a longitudinal channel, and with a branch channel opening through a surface to the said brick laterally disposed with relation to the said first channel and adapted to lead air from said first channel into the combustion chamber of the boiler and hollow air-conducting means connected with, and operative to lead air from, the ash-pit of the boiler into the first of said channels of said brick.

3. The combination of a boiler, having an opening and supporting means within said boiler terminating adjacent to said opening, with a fire brick adapted to be inserted through said opening upon and rcniovably supported by said means within the combustion chamber of the boiler, said brick being provided with a channel connecting with the outside of said boiler through said opening, and with a branch channel extending from said first channel to and through a side of the said brick laterally disposed with respect to said first channel, and hollow air-conducting means connected with, and. operative to lead air from, the ash-pit of the boiler into the first of said channels of said brick.

4. The combination of a boiler, having an opening and supporting means within said boiler terminating adjacent to said opening, with a fire brick adapted to be insertcd through said opening upon and rcinomhlv supported by said means to extend within the combustion chamber of the boiler, said bri k being provided with a channel leading from the side adjacent to the said opening and terminating through a surface forming a portion of the ignition surface of the brick within said chamber, and tubular means c7 tending from said channel through said. opening outside of said boiler and into the ash-pit ot the boiler to lead preheated air from said ashpit into the channel of said brick from delivery into said combustion chamber.

The combination of a boiler, having an opening); supporting means within said boiler, with a fire brick adapted to be inserted through said opening and rcmovably supported by said means to exte id within the combustion chamber ot' the boiler, said brick being provided with a hannel leading from the side adjacent to the said opening and terminating through a surface forming; a portion of the ignition surl'acc of the brick within said chamber. said channel being adapted to lead air into said. chamber trom said opening, and pipe connection bciween the said channel of the tiic brick and the ash pit of the boiler.

U. The ciiunhiniition ol a boiler. with an opening in the upper portion thereof, and an opening in the lower portion thereo supporting means within said boiler terminating adiacent to and accessible from said openings, and a tirc brick adapted to be interchangeably positioned upon either of said i it] supporting means, to form either a bridge- Wall at grate level or a suspended ignitlon surface within the combustion chamber of the boiler.

7. The combination of a boiler, with an opening in the upper portion thereof, an opening in the lower portion thereof, supporting means Within said boiler terminating adjacent to and accessible from said openings, fire-bricks upon said means and provided with channels adapted to take in air through said openings, and to pre-heat the air before it leaves said channels through a portion of the high-temperatured ignition surfaces of the said bricks and passes into the combustion chamber of the boiler and a hollow flue connecting the said channels through said openings with the ash-pit of the boiler.

8. The combination of a boiler, with oppositely positioned openings in the upper portion thereof, oppositely ositioned openings in the lower portion t ereof, supporting means Within said boiler accessible from each of said openings, and fire-bricks upon said means removable through said openings and provided with channels adapted to take in air through said openings, and to preheat the air before it leaves said channels through a portion of the high-temperatured ignition surfaces of the said bricks and passes into the combustion chamber of the boiler, and hollow connections whereby air is led from the ash-pit of the boiler into the op osite ends of each of said channels.

n testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ANDREW C. EDGAR. 

